Industry Workplace Experience

One of the founding principles of Swiss hotel schools is the stage (French) or industry placement. On a practical level working in industry helps the student practice the school-learnt skills and measure his or her competence against that of a full time employee. However, taken to extremes the student misses out on valuable classroom time where the emphasis is less on productivity and more on education. At the Swiss Hotel School we believe we have the balance about right: emphasis on classroom time during the first three semesters with short exposure to kitchen, restaurant and accommodation services with the “long” placement bridging semesters four and five.

The short placements, normally undertaken within the region are closely monitored by the School and each venue will be visited by faculty. The timing of the long placement allows the student to move further afield and each year more students are taking up overseas placements. The School through its relationships with Swiss federal government and the Swiss hotel industry has historically been able to ensure that the top 4 or 5 students have the opportunity to work in Switzerland. More recently stages have been organised in the UK, USA, Seychelles and Zimbabwe and Dubai. New relationships with employers are continually being developed and in future new destinations such as Dubai and Mauritius will be available. Students will normally be paid during this placement.

Industry partners with whom we have worked in the last two years:

Hotels:

City Lodge Group, Michaelangelo, The Grace in Rosebank, The Saxon, Southern Sun, The One and Only (Cape Town), Oyster Box (Umhlanga), Hotel Laudinella, Grand Hotel, Victoria Jungfrau.

Casino Hotels:

Emperors Palace complex, Gold Reef City,

Conference venues:

Avianto, Benvenuto

Town and Country Lodges:

Casa Toscana Pretoria, 10 Bompass, Plumari Game Lodge, Kwa maritane, Kapama Game Reserve, Bakubung Game Resort, Banyan Tree Resort (Seychelles)

Restaurants:

Bellgables, Linger Longer, Wombles, Founders Grill, Piccolo Mondo

The 3^rd year Swiss Hotel School students create an annual concept restaurant that operates for a limited one month only. The class of 2010 presents SIXTIES our concept “Relive the experience.” The era of the “Swinging Sixties” has an energetic and fresh atmosphere. We bring you hearty, mouth watering meals with succulent flavours that will leave you speechless!

Come and experience the revival…

Each year selected students are given the opportunity to to do their internship at various hotels, resorts, restaurants and lodges around the world as part of the South African energy and enthusiasm. View the internship galleries